Radiator cap



April 9- G. H. MINER ET AL RADIATOR QAP Filed Oct. 5, 1921 2Sheets-Sheet p x M/ m 5 W J. M CLELLAND April 2, 1929. a. H. MINER ET ALRADIATOR CAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1921 FIE. 7.

FIE 4.

/N VE N 727R. 5-. H- MINER w../. M'L'LELLAND Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITEDSTATES PATENTIOFFICE.

GEORGE H. MINE Ann WILLIAM J. MQCLELLAND, on SAN rnnnorsoo, CALIFORNIA,AssIGNoRs, BY ivrnsnn ASSIGNMENTS, ro THE KINGSLEY-MILLER COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01 ILLnvoIs.

RADIATOR CAP.

Application filed October 3, 1921. Serial No. 504,851.

The present invention relates to improvements in tank and other closurecaps or plugs for ,general closure purposes but has particular referenceto radiator caps for auto mobiles and other motor vehicles and residesin the provision of a cap which is constructed and arranged so that whenonce fitted into place it is automatically locked against removal,access to the radiator, tank or other object with which the cap is used,being had thru a closure permanently or non-removably attached to andformingv a part of the cap. i

The ordinary radiator cap for automobiles and the like is frequentlylost due to failure to screw the cap back into place after filling theradiator and due to theunscrewing of the cap and falling of the same,off the neck while the vehicle is in motion. Radiator caps of theordinary screw-(in-removable type are also frequently stolen,particularly when such caps support temperature and level indicators orornaments. We are also aware of closure caps or plugs, particularly inthe case of radiator caps, wherein a hinged closure is used instead; ofa screw cap or plug, but these devices are not universally applicable todifferent makes of automobiles without necessitating changes in theconstruction of the neck of the radiator.

It is the primary obiect of the present in vention to provide aclosurecap or plug of the character described, which in the form of a radiatorcap for automobiles and the like, may be readily applied to: variousmakes oi automobiles without necessitating any change in theconstruction oi? the neck oi? the i radiator, the device or ourinvention comprising essentially a body portion and a closure therefor,which is permanently, that is non-removably, attached to the bodyportion, the body portion being constructed so that it may be attachedtothe neck of a 1'2 diatorby the simple expediency of removing theordinary radiator cap and fitting the body portion in place, whereuponthe body portion will automatically lock, and since it cannot beremoved, the entire cap of this invention will become a permanentfixture upon the radiator, thus preventing loss of the cap thruinadvertence or carelessness, or by theft.

An. other object of the invention is to proride a initiator cap at thecharacter de scribed which is constructed so that the means providingfor access to the radiator thru the cap, serves as an ornament.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple andeil'ective locking arrangement :lt'orming a part of the cap oi. thisinvention, which arrangement is suchthat after removing the ordinary capfrom the radiator and screwing the cap of the present invention inplace, it will cause the cap of this invention to be permanently lockedagainst being unscrewed. and removed from theneck, it being necessary toresort to machine work, such as drilling or boring, in. order to gainaccess to the locking means to eflt'eet a release thereof. i i

The invention further resides in the pro vision. of a cap otthecharacter described which includes means for supporting a temperatureindicator. ornament or other device,

in such manner that the indicator, ornament or other dcvice will belocked against removal by unauthorized persons.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which,withtheforegoing will be set forth at length in the followingdescription where we shall outline in full that term of the inventionwhich we have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying andforming a part of the present specification. In said drawings we haveshown one form of the construction. oi": our invention, but it to beruiders tood that i we do not limitourselves to such form since theinvention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality ofi'orms.

Referring to the drawings: y

1 is a front elevation of the cap of this invention showing it as itwould appear when in use.

Fig. 2 a front elevation. of: the cap show ing it with. the hingedclosure open to permit of access to the radiator.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewo'ii the cap of this inventionshowing the side extensions or ornamental devices broken awayand partlyin side elevation.

Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the locking device.

Fig. 5 is a oi? Fig. 4, showing in part, a part of the cap with. whichthe locking device locks to eil'ect a permanent attachment oi? the capto the ra-= diatom 1 a sectional view taken on line 5 5 hinged closure.The body portion is adapted to be screwed onto the neck of a radiatortion to permit of access to the neck. The

body portion is composed of two main parts,

one of which screws onto the neck of the radiator,'the other of which islocked .to the "first'named part so that access to the first named part,to provide'for unscrewing there- {of after once being screwed intoplace, is pre vented, thereby providing for permanent attachment of thecap as a whole. The locking means for locking the two parts of the bodyportion togetheris of such arrangement' that duringthe screwing of thebody onto the. neckof the radiator, the two parts of the body of the capmove as one and after the body is screwed onto the neck, any attempt tounscrew the same causes the locking means to immediately release andpermitthe upper of the two parts of the body to rotate freely upon thescrewed on part.

Th'e hinged closure is; associated with the body thru theinstrumentality of a connecting andlatching means which is of suchconstruction'and arrangement that it may be 'inadetofserve as anornainentaside from its utilitarian purposes. This is preferablyaccomplished by having lateral outward exi tensions on opposite sides ofthebody of the cap,ihinging' one side of the closure cap to one of saidextensions and releasably latching the opposite sides of the closure bymeans of'the other extension, the latter-extension being 'ii'vote'd'tothe closure. Bothextensions are "extended s1'1flicientlybeyond the sidesof the body to provide wing-like ornaments, orin fact ornaments of anynature'whats'oever, the

said extensions, while serving as ornaments,

actingat the sam'etime as a handle portion and a latch memberrespectively, so as to facilitate the handling of the cap in screwingthe same in place'andthe holdingthereof lock ,nut of specialconstruction, the indiwvhen opening and closing the hinged closure. "Thehin'gedclosure may be formed with 1 an opening thru thebody so as topermit of the attachment of a temperature indicator,

ornament or other device and thru useof a cator or ornament or otherdevice, may be docked to the cap to prevent unauthorized removal ortheft thereof. I

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which embodiment exemplifies-a pre-" ferred formof our invention, 1 designates a per part 3 extends over the lower partso that it will cover and protect said part against being tampered with.

\Ve employ a novel device in connection with the two parts of the bodyportion 1, which device will cause said parts to be locked forcorresponding rotation when screwing the cap onto the neck, but willallow the upper part to revolve freely upon the lower part immediatelyupon a turning of the cap such as would effect an unscrewing thereof,thus not affecting the lower part, which remains screwed in place. Thislocking device, preferably comprises a spring urged locking member 9,preferably in the form of a ball which is movable in a recess 10, formedin the lower part 4 of the body. The recess 10 is preferably extendedinwardly from the outside of the body sothat the spring 11 will tend toforce the ball 9. outwardly, at all times. In the same plane as therecess 9 there is formed in the opposed wall of the upper part 3 a notchor shallow recess 12 into which the ball 9 is adapted to engage so as tolock the parts 3 and 4 against relative movement.

The spring urged detent or ball 9, recess 10 and notch 12 are soarranged that when the cap is turned as in screwing the lower part ontothe neck and the recess 10 and notch 12 register with one another, asshown in Fig.

'6, theball will extend into the recess and notch in such manner thatthe upper and lowerparts of the body are locked against free to turnrelativeto the lower part,'which latter remains'screwed into place. Thelocking device is such that once assembled, access thereto cannot be hadwithout boring thru the parts of the body or completely destroying theconstruction of the cap. Preferably, we place the spring and lockingmember in the recess 10 and move the lower part -1- upwardly'onto theupper part 3 in such manner that the inner side of the upper part willengage and hold the spring urged locking member'initherecessuntil theparts 3 and 4 are properly fitted. This locking arrangement ispreferably located at a point between the shoulder 8 and upper end ofthe lower part 1 of the body.

In order to provide for rotatably connecting the parts 3 and l of thebody with one another so that said parts will not be capable of beingdisassembled after being once rotatably connected, we form in theopposed faces of the parts at a point above the looking device,complementary annular grooves 1-1 of a depth just suiiicient toaccommodate ball bearing members 15, which latter extend half into onegroove and half into the other groove, as shown in Fig. 3. These ballsare mounted in position by being dropped into the vertical bore 16formed in the parts 3 and 4-. of the body, said bore communicating withthe complementary grooves 1 1. The upper end of the part 4 engages in anannular groove 18 formed in a thickened annular portion 19 of the part 3of the body. A bore 20 is-formed thru the thickened portion 19 and isadapted to register with the bore 16 to permit the balls to be droppedinto place after assembling of the parts '3 and 4 of the body 1.

The upper edge of the part 3 or thickened portion 19 is formed with anannular washer groove or seat 21 in which a rubber washer or gasket 22is snugly fitted, said washer covering the upper end of the bore 20. Aplug 17 is fitted into the bore 20 so as to prevent access to the balls15. V

Extending outwardly from one side of the part 3 of the body is a handlelike extension or projection 23 which, for example, may be from 3 to 4or more inches in length so that it maybe cut, stamped or cast asanornainent, for example, so as to represent a wing, as shown in thedrawings. This extension is formed with an upwardly opening recess 24which receives an car 25 projecting outwardly from the one side of theflanged closure 2. A pivot pin 26 is mounted in the recess and car so asto hingedly connectthe closure 111Ql1'lher 2 with the body of the cap.The lower annular edge 27 of the closure 2 is adapted to engage upon thewasher or gasket 22. A recess 28 is formed on the lower edge of theclosure and receives the upper edge of the part 3 soas to insure properalinement and effect a tight seal between the closure and body of thecap.

Means is provided for looking or clamping the closure in place andcomprises a short projection 30, formed on the part 3 opposite to theprojection 23. This projection 30 is provided with a cam face 31 on itslower side adapted to cooperate with a cam surface 32 formed in a recess34 of a lever or looking member 35. The member 35 is preferably of thesame size and shape as the projection 23 and extends from the side ofthe cap as does said projection 23 so as to produce symmetry ofappearance in the cap as a whole and en hance the ornamental quality ofthe device. The lever or looking 1nemher35 receives in the recess 34 ancar 37 which car extends outwardly from the closure 2. A pin 38 isextended across the recess 34 and thru the car so as to pivotally securethe lever 35 in place.

To gain access to the radiator after the cap of our invention is mountedin place, or in other words, to fill the radiator, the lever 35 graspedand swung upwardly on its pivot from its horizontal locking position,shown in 1 and 3, so that the PlOjOGlllOI] 30 is withdrawn from therecess and the lower side of said lever 35 clears said projection 30.The closure with the lever is thenswung into position shown in Fig. 2,and the radiator is ready to be filled,

To close the cap the closure is swung 0 its pivot into closing positionand the lever 35 moved from upright to horizontal position so that theprojection 30 will extend into the recess 04:. As the lever is thusmoved the cam faces 31 and 32 coope ate so that a wedging action suchwill tend to pull downward on the closure, takes place. As the closureis thus clamped or pulled downward, it compresses the rubber gr shot 22and in this way is yieldingly clamped to form a tight seal, when thepoints at X of the cam surfaces 31 and 32 engage one another. Theclosure is thus tightly clamped in closing position and will not besubject to accidental opening incident to shocks and jars.

lnscrewing the cap upon a radiator, upon installing the cap, the twoprojections on the side may serve as handle portions, whereby aneiiective and easy turning of the cap will he provided for. Likewise, inopening and closing the cap, the operator may grasp the handle portionor projection 23 while manipulating the similarly formed but pivotedlever locking member 35. Thus the portions 23 and 35 serve as ornaments,as convenient handles, and one of them constitutes a clamp in g membertohold the cap closed.

The closure 2 may be formed with an opening 39 in the top thereof wherean ornament or ten'lperature indicator, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, maybe secured to the closure by having its stem 40 extended thru theopening and atlixing a special nut lock 41 to the stem within theclosure The nut lock comprises an ordinary nut 12 having a recess 43extending therethru to the screw threads. A ball member 44 is mounted inthe recess and is normally urged inwardly towards the stem by a smallcoil spring 45. The ball, spring and recess are so arranged that inturning the nut in place, the ball is forced into the recess and offersno resistance to such movement of the nut, but when the nut is turned asin unscrewing, the ball will be wedged between the nut and stem so as toprevent unscrewing of the nut. After the ball and spring are insertedthe recess 13 is plugged as at l l to prevent tampering with ill) thelocking means. After the nut is put on the stem, the device- A ispermanently held upon the closure 2 and is'sa'fe uarded against theft,independent of the cap, and the entire cap and device A is, as a whole,securely and pern'ianently held and locked against removal from theradiator.

screwin of said bod )ortion a closure hinged to the body portion andarranged to be moved into and out of position for closing said opening,like extensions projecting from opposite sides of the bony portion andto both of which extensions said closure is pivotaly connected, one ofsaid extensions being rigid with the body portion and the other of saidextensions being capable of movement relative to said body portion andmeanscooperating With the last named extension to provide for clampingand uncla'mping of said closure.

2. A radiator cap comprising a'body portion adapted to be fitted. uponthe neck of a radiator, projections extending outwardly from oppositesides of said body, a closure pivoted on opposite sides to the saidprojections, one of said projections being rigidly supported by thebody. and means associated with the body and with which the otherprojection cooperates to clamp the closure upon the body.

3. A radiator cap comprising a body portion adapted to be fitted uponthe neck of a radiator, like projections extending outwardly fromopposite sides of said body, a closure 1 pivoted on opposite sides tothe said projections,one of said projections being rigidly supported bythe body, and means associated with the body and with which the otherprojection cooperates to clamp the closure upon the body.

4'. In combination with a radiator cap, of a device supported on thecap, a screw threaded stem on said device extending thru said cap,

a nut turned on the stem beneath said cap and means in the nut whichwhen the nut is turned as in unscrewing the same, will wedge between thenut and stem and prevent unscrewin of the nut.

5. The combination ol an internal collar having an opening therethroughand having external threads for attachment to the internally threadedfilling opening of a radiator, an external collar fitting; around saidinternal collar and adapted to terminate adjacent the end of the saidint" ually threaded opening, a closure for said external collar havingan opening adapted to receive a motometer, a pivot pin permanentlysecuring said closure to the external collar, and means locking togethersaid collars against theft.

6. The combination of an internal collar having an opening therethroughand having external threads "for attachment to the internally threadedfilling opening of a radiator, an external collar surrounding saidinternal collar and adapted to terminate adjacent the end of the saidinternally threaded opening, a closure for said external collar adaptedto carry an auxiliary device, a pivot pin permanently securing saidclosure to the external collar, and means maintaining said collars inassembled relation against theft.

7. llleans for locking a radiator cap to a radiator colnprisin aninternal collar adapted to fit a radiator nipple, locking meanspreventing the removal. of the cap from said collar but permittingrelative rotation between said parts, and protective means preventingaccess to said collar from the interior of said cap.

8. Means for locking a radiator cap to a radiator comprising an internal collar adapted to fit a radiator nipple, lockingmeans permittingrotation of said cap about said collar in one direction only, and asecond collar adapted to fit over said internal collar, a downwardlyextending shirt on said second collar, said skirt functioning to protectsaid internal collar against access interiorly of said cap.

GEORGE H. MINER. lVILLIAM J. MGCLELLAND.

